Can you buy Ozempic for weight loss in the UK?

Weight loss medications are far more accessible than they used to be and that's largely thanks to the advent of new and improved treatments. But, what about Ozempic?

The drug that kicked off the recent weight loss medication revolution is used less for weight loss these days and for many valid reasons. However, can you still buy Ozempic in the UK? And, can you buy Ozempic online? Let's get into it.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a medication that was initially designed to treat and manage type 2 diabetes but gained attention for its role in weight loss and weight management.

The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which works by targeting the brain's appetite-regulating centres, particularly after meals, while also helping to slow down stomach emptying [1]. Together, these effects help you stay feeling full for longer.

Can I buy Ozempic in the UK?

While Ozempic is licensed for the treatment of diabetes in the UK (and is available on the NHS for this), it is often prescribed off-label as a treatment for obesity. However, other weight loss treatments are just as, or even more effective, and easier to obtain for those eligible — those are Wegovy and Mounjaro.

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro can be acquired through a prescription. We prescribe both Wegovy and Mounjaro in Juniper's Weight Reset Programme as a tool for weight management, alongside a coaching course that helps you lose weight and keep it off.

With Juniper's programme, you can kickstart your weight loss with Wegovy or Mounjaro and gain access to 1:1 health tracking, as well as lifestyle and health coaching. Our app provides easy step-by-step goals around nutrition and movement, designed to support your muscle mass on the medication.

Keep in mind that these medications aren't suitable for everyone and there are eligibility requirements.

How does it work for weight loss?

All of these medications work similarly for weight loss, although Mounjaro has an added element that makes it slightly more effective.

Ozempic for weight loss

To start, Ozempic works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which is naturally released by your body after eating, helping to regulate feelings of fullness and playing a significant role in managing hunger [2]. This means you're less hungry and tend to consume smaller amounts of food, which leads to weight loss.

GLP-1 also assists with blood sugar control — it manages blood sugar levels by regulating insulting secretion after eating. Lowering blood sugar levels and working as an appetite suppressant also allows for weight loss to occur.

Plus, targeting the appetite receptors in the brain, can help lower your body's natural 'set point', which is the weight your body biologically strives to maintain. This can further support weight loss.

Wegovy for weight loss

Wegovy has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide, and as such, behaves similarly in the body. A key component in this GLP-1 weight loss injection helps support appetite control and slows the movement of food through the digestive system. This generally leads to lower calorie intake and promotes weight loss over time.

A key difference between Ozempic and Wegovy is what these medications are licensed to treat. In the UK, Ozempic is licensed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is licensed for weight loss treatment.

This means that Wegovy is generally more accessible for those who are eligible, with Ozempic recommended for treating those with diabetes.

Another difference between these medications is the dosage strengths. While Ozempic comes in 0.25mg and 0.5mg pens, Wegovy is available in 5 doses — 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg. Your prescriber will advise you on what strength of Wegovy you should build up to for the best weight loss results.

When it comes to weight loss results, Wegovy has impressive results. In a clinical trial of 1,961 obese and overweight adults from 2021 randomly assigned participants either semaglutide injections or a placebo.

Those on a higher dose of semaglutide medication lost an average of 15.3kg, while the placebo group lost an average of 2.6kg after 68 weeks [3].

Mounjaro for weight loss

Mounjaro is another medication used for weight loss. With an active ingredient called tirzepatide, Mounjaro acts on the GLP-1 hormone (same as Wegovy) but also activates another hormone pathway called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which works to promote fat loss and block fat gain.

According to clinical trials, the combination of GLP-1 and GIP makes Mounjaro the most effective weight loss treatment available right now.

A study of over 2,500 patients on GLP-1/GIP treatment in 2022 found an average of up to 20.9% body weight loss in patients after 72 weeks [4].

In the same study, up to 90.9% of patients were able to achieve at least 5% weight loss, up to 83.5% were able to achieve at least 10% weight loss and 56.7% were able to achieve at least 20% weight loss in 72 weeks of treatment.

Are GLP-1 weight loss injections suitable for me?

You need a prescription from a healthcare provider to access these treatments and there are some eligibility requirements.

These medications are considered suitable for those who:

• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, indicating obesity
• Have a BMI of 27 or higher and a weight-related health complication such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or heart disease [5]

On the other hand, GLP-1 medications are considered unsuitable for those who are or have:

• Under 18 or over 75 years
• Pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive
• Type 1 diabetes
• Thyroid cancer, or family members with a history of thyroid cancers
• Liver disease
• Kidney problems
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2)
• Previous bouts of pancreatitis
• Diabetic eye disease

What are the benefits of GLP-1 medications?

It's not just weight loss that you may experience when taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro. In fact, these treatments can lead to a whole host of other health benefits, including the following.

Helps the pancreas regulate blood sugar levels

GLP-1s can lead to improved blood sugar control as semaglutide helps the pancreas release more insulin when blood sugar is high. For example, if your blood sugar levels rise after eating something, your pancreas can respond faster and release insulin, assisting with lowering blood glucose levels [6].

Supports appetite control

GLP-1 medications help to modulate the area of the brain that is responsible for controlling hunger levels and appetite. Reducing your appetite and cravings helps the body begin to enter a natural calorie deficit and encourages weight loss [7].

Assists the liver in preventing increased sugar and fat storage

If your blood sugar levels stay high for too long, it can cause your liver to convert it into a form of sugar called glycogen, which is then stored in the liver and muscles. This can also occur when your blood sugar levels fall drastically low or you engage in vigorous exercise.

Slows digestion

As your digestion slows, it means your body is breaking down food at a slower rate and you'll experience a more sustained energy release rather than peaks and troughs. This also helps keep you feeling fuller for longer, which inevitably means you'll eat less throughout the day.

Lowers the risk of cardiovascular complications

Semaglutide can also help lower one's risk of having a stroke or heart attack as well as reduce conditions like heart disease, sleep apnoea and high blood pressure.

How do I administer weight loss injections?

GLP-1 treatments like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are weekly injections that are administered under the skin, either in the upper arm, thigh or stomach area. Never use the same injection site twice in a row to help reduce the risk of infection and try your best to stick to the same injection day each week.

What if I miss a dose?

Life is busy and you may accidentally miss a dose here and there. Try to take your forgotten dose as soon as possible, within 5 days of the original missed dose.

But, if it's coming up time for your next injection, ignore the missed shot and continue with your scheduled dose instead.

I can't buy Ozempic online, what do I do?

Wegovy and Mounjaro are weight loss medications you might like to consider instead of Ozempic and are generally available from private weight loss clinics, like Juniper.

We prescribe both Wegovy and Mounjaro as part of our Weight Reset Programme, which also includes lifestyle coaching, advice about nutrition and movement and access to our team of expert clinicians who can help you on your weight loss journey.

Our programme works in 3 ways:

• A biological reset: GLP-1 medications work to regulate your appetite hormone, in turn lowering the set point of your body.
• A behaviour reset: Our team will guide you every step of the way. You'll learn about how to construct a healthy plate and what exercise is best for you — these changes are focused on helping you create behavioural changes that stay with you into the future.
• Community support: Research shows that those who engage in community support tend to achieve greater weight loss outcomes than those who don't [5]. As such, we give you access to a supportive community of women on the same journey as you.

When it comes to losing weight, having the right support and tools on hand is key to success. By pairing medication with the right holistic health coaching, you can kick start your weight loss goal and reach your goal weight, once and for all.